Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-06-11
CLASS POEM.
BY MISS MAMIE woFFoRD, TERRILL, TEXAS.

Read as graduating essay by the author
at the commencement exercises of the CF
College, Wednesday, June 1st, 1887.
The senior class of eighty.seven,
Is composed of girls in number eleven,
Some short, some tall some wise,s witty,
Some plain and pompous, some proud and
pretty.
SOME like Teutons, fair.haired, blue-eyed,.
Others with Germania and Spain allied,
AT least one would think with the milder
strain
Flowed the vigorous vintage of old Spain.
The states represented in number are four.
From the Rio Grande to the Chesapeake's
shore.
How in merit they rank pray don't ask me,
Whether Texas, Arkansas, Maryland, Ten.
nessee.
They have delved deep down in classic lore,
Aud will continue to crave, aye, hunger for
more
|
Till sunshine from shadow, light from dark.
ness evolve.
All are ambitious, kind-hearted, and true,
And will do with their might what their
hands find to do,
But shouldn't wonder if in golden even.
tide,
Much study had made them pale and leaden.
eyed.
Some have dwelt long in the lands of Latin,
Some show culture by embroiderng in satin,
Some know more of the War of the Roses
Some take to Botany and analyze posies.
Solomon said in understanding do not fail.
In this suggestion feel my heart pale
But we've heard the wise man down the
ages of time,
And don't think that our names will be lost
with my rhyme.
On for the pen of ready writer,
That the tints on my canvas might grow
brighter,
But I'll into futurity take great leap,
And hope all who hear me my secret will
keep.
Misses Bonds, IRVINE, Forgey, wear math.
ematical looks,
l wouldn't be surprised should the world
hear of their books,
And in the dim future it may prove true,
Professors chairs they may nobly fill too
Misses Bullard, Mcbride, are musicians of
note,
A volume l might to their praises devote,
Their strains of sadness and of mirth
Would charm cen angels back to earth.
And having moved all inanimate like Or.
phens' Tyre,
They should be called to join the angelic
choir,
! Then their strains might so touch the cold
hearts of men,
AS to win them back to Heaven again.
Miss Cody will charm by her words of oratorv
. AS she tells of great dangers and deeds dark
and CORY,
And recite some romance or some fairy
fable
Or tells with much pathos the death of Abel.
Miss Gardner longs to charm the sufferers
in prison,
And tell of the Savior for lost man arisen,
And show them the cross, the crucified Lord
And WOO them to Heaven by reading his
Word.
, Miss Ewing will wear silks, satins and laces,
= And be in the world all things to all faces,
/ She will have of servants twenty and four
And all will admire who stop at her door,
Miss Witherington will be heard in legisla.
= tive halls,
+ She has no compassion on parties and balls,
+ And says: I've read all that's been writ
ten of note,
, And at last haye decided that women must
vote"
She'll stand for the right and defend the
poor
And all will bless her who leave her door,
My friends do You laugh? is the picture not
true?
The angels will smile at the good she'll do.
}, Miss Carolan aims not for glory and honor
r But to solace and soothe the dark world
that leans on her,
She will brighten her home by her smiles
and then
Her husband will be the happiest of men.
I've introduced all, not one is left,
To shoulder the burdens of man bereft.
Our ships today on life's ocean sail
At the thought of the harbOr our cheeks
grow pale.
We sail on the calm of summer sea.
Sunny isles are in sight, our sails swing free,
q We hear ch eery voices in far off song,
Watching and waiting and beckOning us
along.
+. Wen anchor far down the dim future bay,
q Rocks, shoals and gales are in our way,
g But our Savior is helmsman and with us
Il will abide,
fr.N - L = Ii. l.